News

A MARRIED man from Moreton has been jailed for two years after admitting three offences of causing an 11-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity.

Thomas Asquith, 30, a salesman of Old Town, Moreton, had sent the girl 37 sexually explicit texts in one day and she had texted him a picture of herself naked, Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday.

When Asquith was arrested police found other child porn on his computer, said Lisa Hennessy, prosecuting.

Asquith was jailed for two years after he admitted three offences of causing the girl to engage in sexual activity and six of possessing indecent images of children.

Judge William Hart said he was in no doubt that Asquith was “a paedophile and a danger to children”.

A sexual offences prevention order was imposed on Asquith, he was banned him from working with children for life and ordered him to sign the sex offenders register.

Asquith was caught after the 11-year-old’s older sister checked the victim's phone.

Mrs Hennessy said when the 11-year-old, who lived in Bourton and whose family knew the defendant, was interviewed by police she said she had been in webcam communication with Asquith and he had
been asking her to lift up her top and expose her breasts.

When Asquith was arrested he made a full admission, saying he felt he had “potentially overstepped the mark”.

Asquith's computer was seized and 54 indecent videos and pictures were found.

Nicola Berryman, defending, said there had been no physical contact between Asquith and the girl.

"He has always said he is very, very sorry about what happened," Mrs Berryman said. "He has never, ever tried to blame this 11- year-old girl for what happened. He accepts that as an adult he is
completely and utterly culpable.”

She urged the court to pass a non-custodial sentence that would allow Asquith, who had been convicted in 2004 for possessing indecent images, to receive treatment for his sexual deviancy.